Search team recommends Lorick as SBTC executive director

GRAPEVINE—A committee formed to seek the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s next executive director has unanimously agreed on a candidate. Nathan Lorick, currently executive director of the Colorado Baptist General Convention, will be considered during a called board meeting, February 21, in Grapevine. Lorick, 39, has served the Colorado convention since 2017 and was evangelism director for the SBTC, from 2012 to 2017, after pastoring two churches in Texas.

The committee was formed during the November 11, 2020, Executive Board meeting, after the board heard Jim Richards announce that he was stepping down as executive director during 2021. Richards is the founding leader of the convention, beginning his tenure in 1998. The committee went to work immediately. 

The committee chairman credited the members’ commitment to prayer, as well as the prayers of those across the convention, for clear leadership from God and the unity the search committee experienced. 

“I’ve been on several search committees, and often it takes quite a bit of time to narrow to one candidate. However, after weeks of prayer, and the interview process, we were impressed that God laid the same candidate on each of our hearts.,” said SBTC Executive Board (and search team) Chairman Mark Hogan, of San Antonio. “In this instance, we were completely convinced this candidate was uniquely qualified. We are very excited about the possibility of Nathan leading SBTC into the future.”

Lorick found the experience humbling. “Walking through this process has been an extremely humbling experience. The possibility that God could be calling me to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Jim Richards, a man of unparalleled leadership and integrity, is truly an honor.” 

Current Executive Director Jim Richards said of Lorick’s recommendation to succeed him, “Nathan did a phenomenal job for SBTC as our evangelism director for nearly five years. I have been excited to see his success leading Colorado Baptists since then. If the board elects him executive director of the SBTC, it will be my greatest pleasure to walk alongside him for the remainder of this year. I think he’d be a great leader for our convention.” 

Lorick is married to Jenna and they have four children. He earned Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Liberty University, and a Bachelor of Arts from East Texas Baptist University.  

According to a succession plan approved by the Executive Board last year, Lorick, if elected, will serve under Richards as executive director-elect for three months and then become executive director, with Richards continuing in an advisory role through the remainder of 2021.